Russia rejects spy death blame

Russia has denied that it was involved in the murder of Kremlin critic and former spy Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006. A British lawyer told a hearing into Litvinenko's poisoning that the Russian government was likely involved in his death.

Russia has denied that it was involved in the murder of Kremlin critic and former spy Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006.

A British lawyer told a preliminary hearing into Litvinenko's poisoning that the Russian government was most likely involved in his death, which has soured relations between Moscow and London.

But Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich told reporters: "We hope that as a result of the (legal process)... all the baseless allegations about some kind of a Russian involvement in this affair will be dispelled once and for all."

The wife of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko said the inquest into her husband's death should consider whether MI6 failed in its duty to protect against a "real and immediate risk to life."

Mr Litvinenko had been hired by MI6 for a number of years and was working with the Spanish secret service investigating the Russian mafia shortly before his death, a pre-inquest review at Camden Town Hall, in London, heard.

Mrs Litvinenko said outside the hearing she was pleased the alleged involvement of the Russian government in her husband's murder would now be considered.

"We've been saying this many times but this is the first time this question has been raised in court."

"I appreciate all that was done today and I'm looking forward to any decision which will be taken by the coroner after today's hearing."

Evidence found by the Government has shown the Russian state was involved in the murder of former spy Alexander Litvinenko, a pre-inquest hearing heard today.

Alexander Litvinenko died in hospital in November 2006 Credit: Getty Images

Mr Litvinenko died in November 2006 after his tea was poisoned with polonium-210, allegedly after meeting with two Russians: former KGB contacts Andrei Lugovoy and Dmitry Kovtun, in central London.

Hugh Davies, counsel to the inquest into Mr Litvinenko's death, said assessments of confidential material submitted by the British Government had "established a prima facie case as to the culpability of the Russian state in the death of Alexander Litvinenko".